"Frustrated" about Russia

After screenshots of the communication were uploaded on Twitter, the president lauded his son as a "high-quality person" and praised his "transparency".

The White House has branded talk of perjury and treason over alleged links to Moscow as "ridiculous", adding the president is "frustrated" Russia continues to be an issue and would love to move on.

In reply to the offer of "ultra sensitive" information on Mrs Clinton, Mr Trump Jr had said: "If it's what you say I love it."

During Tuesday night's Fox News interview, Mr Trump Jr appeared to suggest it was a "shame" that the meeting amounted to nothing.

The talks had also been attended by the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort, the Trump campaign chief at the time.

Alleged links between the Trump campaign and Russia - along with Moscow's possible meddling in the US election - are currently the focus of a number of inquiries, including a probe by special counsel Robert Mueller, an ex-FBI chief.

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said the e-mails show the Trump campaign "sought to collude with a hostile foreign power to subvert America's democracy", although Republicans played down the revelations.

Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, called on Mr Trump Jr to hand over all documents related to contact with Russia.

Mr Trump Jr is also facing calls to appear before a congressional committee.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ms Veselnitskaya claimed she "never had compromising information" on Mrs Clinton and "could not have had".

She told reporters it is "not true" she had information and Mr Trump Jr "was told so".